Seattle doesn't have that great of record stores. I shop more in PDX than Seattle or do mail order.

Every place here will have veg, that is the least of your worries. Best sandwich is paseo. I would rent a car, but that is me. In Seattle you can take a ferry, go to the locks (it's free)

if you really want to do with out a car you can take the Bolt Bus from Seattle to PDX. and just stay downtown in both places.

chiXpoXparty:

In Portland, definitely Mississippi Recs. Also, Green Noise. Floating World Comics (downtown) has a smallish record selection in the back of the store, which has a surprising amount of rare old punk 45s, pretty reasonably priced - the kind of stuff you almost never see in a store. Club 21 is a cool little dive bar and often has free punk shows (SE 20th & Sandy).

In Seattle, Singles Going Steady (downtown, on 2nd I think) is good - but Portland has no sales tax so those stores are usually a better deal.

Having lived in both towns, I think Portland is by far friendlier and more fun (and sooo much cheaper). You would do well to have a car, though - the buses quit running by 12 and not an easy place to hail a taxi.

in Seattle you can stay at the Moore, but don't act up in their bar or you'll be quickly 86'd.

I would say renting a car is not worth it, both towns are pretty walkable unless it's raining which it usually is.

If you do rent a car you can drive by Mt. St. Helen's and the Mima Mounds. also, there's a good record store out near Dick's Hamburgers in Seattle, but as noted above, it's expensive.

The Troll:

You can always take the train between Seattle and Portland.

ida slapter:

Bolt bus will be much cheaper.

skank police:

BOLT BUS RULES! Buy a ticket now and it could be ultra cheap (they sell the first seats for $1-5!)...there seem to be only regular folks, no inmates, mouthbreathers, hippies, or criminal mouthbreathing hippies. It's faster than the train, clean and has wi-fi and outlets at your seat. I rode home on Sunday, and the driver passed out chocolate!

I dare you to eat a bad meal in Portland... or drink, just choose your dive bars wisely and you'll do great.